Google and Facebook set up shop in central Oregon

Two of the world's largest online presences, Google and Facebook have recently built large data centers near each other in what at first glance seems an unlikely location, the sparsely populated high desert of central Oregon.

Google's facility is located in The Dalles on the Columbia River; the Facebook facility is less than 100 miles south in Prineville. Why have these two global internet leaders decided to set up shop in these two small, rural Oregon towns? Cheap land and tax breaks are likely motivations. Both of these communities have endured severe economic downturns for years. The Dalles experienced the closing of a major aluminum manufacturing plant and Prineville has experienced a dramatic decrease in demand for Oregon wood products.

But beyond the real estate investment incentives, what else might draw Google and Facebook to central Oregon... could it be proximity to renewable energy resources? The Columbia River is one of the largest sources of hydroelectric power generation in the United States. Both The Dalles and Prineville are close to major interstate transmission lines connecting the entire West Coast power grid. And then, there's the wind.

Central Oregon has also been identified as a prime region for wind power development. In fact, Google recently invested $100 million in the Sheperd's Flat Wind Farm being built near Arlington, Oregon, just east of The Dalles. When completed, the Sheperd's Flat Wind Farm will occupy a 30 square mile area and will be the largest producer of wind power in the country.

Central Oregon has always been known for its outstanding fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation. Now, it's also becoming known for its world-class server farms.

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